Bangladesh government plans to reduce marital age to zero in special cases

Bangladesh is poised to take a controversial step in support of child marriage in country. Bangladesh planning to introduce a legal loophole which will set no age limit for marriage.

The legal age of marriage for men and women have been kept as 21 and 18 respectively in the Child Marriage Restraint Bill. But, the country also introduces exceptions in special cases where the marriageable age can be zero.

The exceptions can be allowed with presidential approval. It was also said that courts will take care of abuse by doing proper assessment of the cases.

It has been feared that the order can also be used to force victims of sexual abuse or pregnant rape victims to marry their abusers.